"We are very disappointed," Madhumita Dutta of Ban Asbestos Network told the BBC.

"Last week, the Supreme Court said if a contaminated ship comes to India, it should be sent back. It's been proved beyond doubt that Blue Lady contains all sorts of toxic material. How can the court allow it to be dismantled?" she asked.

The alliance says Indian yards lack the technology to deal with such waste and workers will be exposed to unacceptable risk.

Last year, a study commissioned by the government confirmed that one in six workers at the Alang ship yards showed signs of asbestos poisoning.

Hotel or museum

The Blue Lady, now owned by an Indian firm, was once the pride of the French shipping industry when it was the SS France.

Artist Salvador Dali and pop star David Bowie were among its celebrity passengers.

Ship-lovers and ecologists alike have battled to prevent the vessel from being scrapped.

There was a proposal to convert the liner into a floating hotel. Campaigners in the France Liner Association want to see it turned into a museum.

Alang, known as the graveyard of ships, has been the last port of call for countless ships from around the world. Thousands of workers take apart huge liners, past their prime, with their hands and very basic tools.

Last year, the French government bowed to pressure and recalled the decommissioned aircraft carrier Clemenceau while it was en route to Alang.

The Alang Ship Breaking Association has in the past denied charges of asbestos poisoning.

The Gujarat Maritime Board, which administers the yards, says the workers are provided with equipment and adequate training to ensure their safety.